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Eight interactive modules (real-time 'chat,' class e-mail, brainstorming tool, guided peer response or critical reading activity, word processor with dictionary and thesaurus, bibliography manager, file server access/management, automatic class assignment feature) that allow for a wide variety of computer mediated interaction: teacher to student, student to student, student to whole class. Among its many features is that it works in real time, so a class that meets in a lab can hold both large and small group discussion on-line: as a user types a comment, it appears on everyone's screen. Transcripts of all discussions are stored automatically to the server, and can be saved to a disk or printed out for further review. Although some parts of DIWE can be run on individual non-networked computers (primarily the brainstorming, reading, word processing, and bibliography tools), it is most effective when run over a local area network from a file server. The program is not difficult to use, but instructors may find Daedalus training and support helpful in integrating it into an existing curriculum. Unit cost starts at $150 per station; additional customer support options, ESL Teacher Tool, Online Style Handbook, and Foreign Language Tools are also available. Other pricing includes unlimited campus-wide licenses and annual leases. DaedalusMOO: moo.daedalus.com 7777
Widely-used in foreign languages, this long-time authoring program originally from Conduit hasn't made too much of an impact in ESL. One reason for that is that it has very limited authoring capability: you're limited to 4-5 types of exercises (and no scripting), and student responses are always evaluated letter by letter, word by word; the other is that it uses a rather traditional drill and practice paradigm. Becomes more interesting if the exercises include graphics, sound, or laserdisc access, but this kind of multimedia work can be better done with other programs.
Content-based reading and grammar practice designed for children. Over 20 digital books for grades 1-6 with over 300 pictures of the animals and plants on the various ecosystems on Earth that students can copy for use in projects. Books for grades 1-3 have a 'read aloud' feature. A demo is online at http://www.ingenuityworks.com. CD-ROM.
Includes eight math curricula,with up to 70 levels each, and covers 18 math skills. Spanish/English version allows each student to see and hear problems in Spanish or English, or to switch between languages at any time.
Students work in groups to use the software and text materials to make decisions. Students check the printed materials for additional background information. As a group they prioritize their goals, receive multiple perspectives on the issues from their 'advisors' in the computer, discuss their options and input their course of action to the computer. The computer presents the consequences and the 'advisors' reappear to offer the students help in dealing with them prior to another round of decisions, actions and consequences. These programs work well in a one-computer classroom. The following are ones most likely to be of interest to ESL/EFL students. Immigration: Students are community decision makers. The computer presents a number of dilemmas related to immigration policy in the U.S. Prejudice: Students take the role of a mayor up for re-election in a town with a racism problem. Their 'advisors' in the computer are an historian, a campaign manager, a lawyer and an activist. The Environment: Students are community decision makers. The computer presents a number a dilemmas related to environmental damage in a small town. Urbanization: Students are community decision makers. The computer presents a number of dilemma related to the costs and benefits of urbanization for a small town. Violence in the Media: Students take the role of an advertising executive for a company sponsoring a controversial television program about life in a gang-infested urban neighborhood.
This TOEFL-practice CD-ROM can be used separately or in connection with the text by the same name. The CD-ROM includes 1200 test questions, tutorials, review features, scripts, and print features for the essay and progress chart.
A space adventure activity; on disk or CD-ROM.
Helps students sharpen their critical thinking skills and develop their ability to make inferences. Disks contain short factual readings on four levels. Students read selections and answer multiple choice questions based on key words and inferences. Upgraded for Windows 95/98/2000. Networkable.
The native-speaker program practices parts of speech. Diagnostic tests determine a student's understanding of grammar and direct him/her to the appropriate lesson to improve performance. Each lesson focuses on a particular grammar skill, is self correcting, and allows students to advance without teacher intervention. I couldn't get the program to run on my 8600 Mac running OS8, but the publisher may have corrected the problem by now. (LOB)
A four-set series available on CD-ROM or disks. Each graded set has 30 cloze passages grouped in three readability levels. The nonfiction passages use a multiple-choice exercise format. The cloze stories are content-based with literature, science, and social studies themes. The writing practice segment offers activities to improve persuasive, narrative, process, descriptive, and report writing. Sets can be purchased separately for $70 or as a whole for $250. Lab pack of five is $500, of 10 is $750, and a network version is $1000.
Multimedia grammar program includes exercises on capitalization, punctuation, parts of speech, subject-verb agreement, compound sentences, and paragraph construction. Designed for native speakers, but usable with ESL. Includes diagnostic tests that determine the language arts skills of each student and prescribe what is needed for improvement. Thirty-six tutorial lessons, presented with voice and text, develop language arts concepts, evaluate performance at each level and redirect students to lower levels to help build skills or to higher levels to learn more advanced skills.
An interactive reading tutorial designed for native speakers of English, both children and adults. The program is diagnostic, prescriptive and developmental. The instruction focuses on reading for details, inference, the main idea, vocabulary (synonoyms, multiple meanings, discovering meaning in context), identifying the sequential signals in a text, and distinguishing between fact and opinion. The program includes a glossary with definitions and computer pronunciation of the target words. Useful for ESL false beginners and above.
The program works like Diascriptive Reading, but with a focus on the content area of science. Five diagnostic tests and 25 reading programs are included. CD-ROM.
Talking word processor which 'says' letters and words as they are typed. Includes a large-text word-processor and drill in identifying letters. Helpful for beginning readers, adults, and children. The Mac version works with a Unicorn Board and Adaptive Firmware Card or IntelliKeys. The MS-DOS version requires Digispeech 201A or later.
This simple ESL program developed by teachers focuses on clothing and accessory vocabulary. Students dress male and female characters through commands they give. Students see graphics and vocabulary words, and use both in activities. The program includes an online speaking glossary. Multiple program site licences available.
Formerly known as Interactive Business English. Presented in a similar format to Dynamic English for ESL, this listening-based business English course on 6 CD-ROMs offers the listening, speaking, reading, and critical thinking skills for the workplace/international business situation. The topics are Company History, Job History, Manufacturing and Trade, Product Comparisons, Overseas Assignment, and Future Consequences. This content-based program begins with a Presentation during which the student answers periodic listening comprehension questions. These questions reinforce the vocabulary, language concepts, and structure, while giving the students repeated opportunities to respond. The feedback includes an automated 'shuffler level' which adjusts the level of difficulty of the questions according to the learner's response. The Question Practice gives the student practice in question formation. Quantitative English, Dictations, the Verb Grid, and Grammar Fill-In test the student's knowledge. The program includes voice recording capability for student practice. Mac and Windows. Individual CDs (one topic each) can be purchased separately. Pricing options include per-student-use cost. Contact the publisher for details.
Dramatized retellings of Round the World in 80 days, A Christmas Carol, Alice in Wonderland, and Robin Hood on interactive CD-ROM supported by dictations, fill-ins, character matrix, and on-line comprehension aids. For listening, reading, and vocabulary development. Voice recording. Pricing options include per-student-use cost. Contact the publisher for details.
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